Cowen Park Bridge Seismic Improvements Coming This Fall!

August 20, 2019 by Molly Wright

Cowen Park Bridge facing north on 15th Ave NE

We are preparing to make seismic improvements to the Cowen Park Bridge to reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to earthquakes. Plan ahead and prepare for impacts to travel.

Here’s what you can expect:

SCHEDULE

Construction on the Cowen Park Bridge is anticipated to begin this fall 2019 and last approximately 6 months. We are in the final stages of selecting a contractor for this project.

CLOSURE | DETOUR

There will be redirects for people walking and biking across the bridge, as well as partial closures of walking routes within Cowen/Ravenna Parks underneath the bridge. Prepare for up to 2-3 full bridge weekend closures.

NOISE

There will be noise, dust, and vibrations during work hours, as well as equipment and materials staged near the work zone.

PROJECT OUTCOME

The planned seismic retrofits include several modifications to strengthen existing bridge components and reduce overall seismic vulnerability while preserving the bridge’s historic Art Deco character.

Map of the Cowen Park Bridge Seismic Retrofit project

What’s the background on this project?

Cowen Park Bridge from below in Cowen Park

Infrastructure maintenance is critical for a healthy, vibrant, and connected city. As part of the City of Seattle’s efforts to invest in transportation infrastructure and address seismic vulnerability, the City established a bridge seismic retrofit program. Funded through the Levy to Move Seattle, the City selected 16 bridges for seismic retrofits, including the Cowen Park Bridge. Approved by voters in 2015, the 9-year $930 million Levy to Move Seattle provides funding to improve safety for all travelers, maintain our streets and bridges, and invest in reliable, affordable travel options for a growing city.

Cowen Park Bridge was built in 1936, prior to the modernization of the seismic design code. It connects the Roosevelt/Ravenna neighborhood with the University District via 15th Ave NE across a ravine in Cowen Park. The bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated City landmark.

Want more information?

We’re committed to keeping stakeholders informed and working with neighbors throughout the project to limit construction impacts to the extent feasible. For more information, including a schedule for this work, what to expect during construction, translated content, and how to join our email list, please visit www.seattle.gov/transportation/cowen-park-bridge.

Come on down and ride the new 8th Ave protected bike lane!

August 14, 2019 by Molly Wright

Sam Zimbabwe, Vicky Clark, and Mayor Jenny Durkan hold the ribbon as a person biking approaches. Celebrating the opening of the bike lane!

SDOT Director Sam Zimbabwe, Cascade Bicycle Club’s Vicky Clark, and Mayor Jenny Durkan hold the ribbon as a person biking approaches. We had a blast celebrating the opening of the bike lane!

Bring your bike (and don’t forget a helmet!) and come ride on the new protected bike lane on 8^th Ave in downtown Seattle!

Center City Bike Network Map

The redesigned 8th Ave includes a one-way northbound protected bike lane between Pike St and Bell St, one travel lane, paid parking and load zones, and new bike signals at busy intersection. This project completes a two-way couplet for people biking with the existing one-way southbound 7th Ave protected bike lane.

It will connect with protected bike lanes on Bell St and 9th Ave to get people to and from the Westlake Cycle Track and north Seattle neighborhoods, and it will connect with bike lanes on Pike St and Pine St to get people to and from greater downtown, Pike Place Market, and Capitol Hill.

This project also extends the Pine St protected bike lane between 7th Ave and 8th Ave in order to provide a connection to the new facility on 8th Ave.

We celebrated the opening of the bike lane on Wednesday, August 14 along with many members of the community!

SDOT Director Sam Zimbabwe and Mayor Jenny Durkan at the 8th Ave protected bike lane ribbon cutting event.

We celebrated with Cascade Bicycle Club, the Washington State Convention Center, Commute Seattle, and many more of our local neighborhood groups, advocates, and other stakeholders. Thank you to everyone who attended this fun event and rode through the ribbon, officially marking the grand opening!

Mayor Durkan with our awesome SDOT staff who worked on this project! Great job, everybody!

Why did we install this bike lane?

A sign on the newly installed 8th Ave protected bike lane.

These improvements are part of the Center City Bike Network, which is a longstanding city priority to make center city streets safer and more predictable for everyone, have biking be a real transportation choice in our densest jobs center, and to maintain transit priority. The goal is to have these projects completed by the end of this year.

During the #SeattleSqueeze, Seattle’s period over the next five years where increased construction projects impact how we all get around downtown, it’s important for all of us to change our commutes to keep people and goods moving safely. Biking continues to be a great option during the Squeeze, and our numbers show that you all increased the amount of biking you were doing during the first chapter – keep it up!

We’re committed to providing bicycle options to keep you moving during the Seattle Squeeze and beyond to keep traffic volumes low and our collective spirits high.

What’s next?

PIKE ST: New protected bike lanes between 9th Ave and Broadway. A redesigned Pike St will include one general travel lane in each direction, paint-and-post bike lanes, parking removal, and reconfigured load zones.
9th AVE N: New protected bike lanes between 8th Ave and Harrison St. The redesigned 9th Ave N and Bell St will include one general travel lane in each direction, paint-and-post bike lanes, no center turn lane, minor parking removal, and a new 4-way stop at 9th Ave N and John St.
SOUTH END CONNECTION: New 2-way protected bike lanes on 2nd Ave Ext S, S Main St, and 5th Ave S between the existing 2nd Ave protected bike lanes and the S King St Neighborhood Greenway. We’re redesigning these streets with separate bike facilities while maintaining transit priority. The project includes general travel lanes on a mix of 1-way and 2-way streets, paint-and-post bike lanes, and minor parking changes.

Questions?

Email ccbike@seattle.gov and follow along on our Center City Bike Network webpage!

August 12: 5th Ave NE Closure for Link Light Rail Construction

August 12, 2019 by Molly Wright

Link light rail construction at Northgate in 2017.

If you’re traveling through North Seattle, prepare for a long-term closure of 5^th Ave NE between NE 130^th St and NE 145^th St! This closure is to provide space for crews to build the elevated guideway for the Lynnwood Link light rail extension.

Here’s what you can expect:

SCHEDULE

5th Ave NE will be closed starting August 12. The closure duration is three years and will reopen fall of 2022.

Crews will perform work between 7 AM and 6 PM Monday through Friday. Nights and weekend work will occur if necessary.

CLOSURE | DETOUR

5th Ave NE will be closed between NE 130th St and NE 145th St. In addition, the southbound lanes of 5^th Ave NE from NE 130^th St – NE 125^th St will be closed.

Local access between NE 130th Street and the south end of the Jackson Park Golf Course will be maintained, and the I-5 off-ramps will remain open. In addition, the existing pedestrian path along 5^th Ave NE will remain open.

PROJECT OUTCOME

Sound Transit crews are beginning construction for the Lynnwood Link light rail project. Lynnwood Link light rail will open in 2024 after the Northgate extension opens in 2021.

Want more information?

Visit Sound Transit’s website to learn more about the project. For the latest traffic information, follow us on Twitter at @SDOTTraffic.

Plan ahead for Fairview Ave N. Bridge detour prep work on Aloha St, July-September

July 22, 2019 by Salma Siddick

Starting the week of July 22, 2019, the Fairview Ave N Bridge Replacement Project will begin detour preparation work along Aloha Street, as they get ready for Fairview Ave N Bridge closure and replacement this fall.

Here’s what you can expect:

The work is needed to support safety and the flow of traffic during future bridge closure and focus on the three-way intersection at Aloha St and Yale Ave, and traffic movements at Fairview Ave N and Eastlake Ave E. During the detour prep work, portions of Aloha St will be closed and some of the changes will be permanent. Plan ahead and learn more about the work on the project webpage. The work will:

Install a new traffic signal at Aloha St and Eastlake Ave E and update the signal timing at Aloha St and Fairview Ave N
Install a permanently raised intersection with an all-way stop control at Aloha St and Yale Ave N

Schedule

This preparation work is expected to last approximately two months and will be completed before the Fairview Ave N Bridge is closed for construction this fall. Phase 1 will begin the week of July 22. Phase 2 will begin in mid-August. Each phase will last approximately 10 to 15 working days.

Closure | Detour

The work will occur on Aloha St, between Fairview Ave N and Eastlake Ave E, so impacts to travelers along Fairview Ave N or Eastlake Ave E should be minimal. Access to Fred Hutchinson and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance facilities will be maintained throughout construction, supported by local detours. Learn more about the Aloha St detour work.

Project outcome

Aloha St will be the pedestrian, transit, bicycle, and local traffic detour during bridge construction.

The project team will provide regular updates during Aloha St construction via email and the project webpage. Visit the project webpage to join the project email list.

Prepare for Travel Impacts on 5th Ave from July-August for Rainier Square

July 16, 2019 by Molly Wright

The view of Rainier Square from 4th Ave and Union St.

Crews will be blocking the west lane on 5^th Ave between Union St and University St from 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday-Friday to remove the guardrail beginning on Monday, July 22.

While this will impact travel for up to a few weeks, putting this structure in place saved years of disruption on 5^th Ave.

Quick history lesson on Rainier Square, from 2017 to today.

A look back on construction on Rainier Square from May 2018. View from 4th Ave.

Construction on the Rainier Square development on 5^th Ave between Union St and University St began in late 2017 and is expected to be completed next year.

The original plan from 2017 was to close the travel lanes on each side (yep, that’s 4^th Ave, 5^th Ave, Union St, and University St – all of them) for two years. Our Construction Hub Coordination team had many meetings with their project team to minimize the impacts to the travel lanes, keeping them open for people to travel through the area.

In the end, to keep the travel lane open on 5^th Ave, the teams reached a consensus to install a guardrail structure to protect people traveling through the area from the hole they were digging as part of construction.

Installing this guardrail kept the lane open for nearly two years since construction has begun, and now it’s time to remove it!

The initial proposal to remove the guardrail this July and August was to close a lane on 5^th Ave 24/7 to complete the work. Our team found that the majority of the work will take place on site which will reduce the impact to 5th Ave. The conclusion was taking the west lane on 5^th Ave only from 9 AM to 3 PM. While this may make the work take longer, it will create less overall impact to 5^th Ave, helping you travel through the area more easily!

Here’s what you can expect.

Looking down 5th Ave at Union St with the guardrail installed in the west lane.

SCHEDULE

The dates needed to remove the guardrail are tentatively scheduled for Monday, July 22 – Saturday, August 31. If work is completed before then, the lane will be reopened prior to August 31.

At some point before Thanksgiving, the west lane will need to be closed 24/7 for about two weeks to pour the curb back and remove the guard rail. After this, they will start pouring the sidewalk back. When that is completed, the sidewalk on the west side will be open again after 2 years of closure. The schedule for the sidewalk restoration is still being determined.

CLOSURE | DETOUR

Work will be occurring in the west lane of 5^th Ave between Union St and University St from 9 AM to 3 PM, Monday-Friday. Plan ahead and prepare for increased travel times on 5^th Ave.

Map showing impacts of work on the west lane of 5th Ave. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.

NOISE

Noise will be mostly during the day for the curb and street restoration.

PROJECT OUTCOME

Completing this work now will allow the west sidewalk to be open for people walking prior to the Holiday Construction Moratorium, which is the restriction we place on construction in the Downtown Retail Core, Pioneer Square, and Chinatown-International District neighborhoods between Thanksgiving and the Lunar New Year. By restricting construction for the winter holidays, we support Seattle businesses during the peak shopping season and reduce traffic congestion during this busy time of year.

Want more information?

Gazing up at the Rainier Square tower in downtown Seattle.

Check out our blog post from 2018 describing the Rainier Tower project and the work we did to minimize sidewalk and travel lane closures!

If you have further questions, please contact our Construction Hub Coordination team at SDOTConstructionHub@seattle.gov.

Prepare for Travel Impacts Downtown on 1st Ave S and 3rd Ave

June 26, 2019 by Molly Wright

The #SeattleSqueeze continues this week, as demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and construction of new ORCA transit card readers impact travel to and through downtown. Read on and plan ahead for your next trip downtown!

July 1 – August 4: NB Bus Stop Closure at 3^rd Ave and James St

The bus stop at 3^rd Ave and James St will be closed as part of construction to add new ORCA transit card readers at every transit stop on 3^rd Ave between Yesler Way and Denny Way. Metro routes 3, 5, 17, 18, 19, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33, 37, 40, 41, 62, 116, 118, 119, 124, 131, 132, 304 & 355 will instead use a temporary stop located one block north on northbound 3rd Ave just south of Cherry St. Find more information and sign up for service alerts on Metro’s website.

June 27: Lane reductions on 1st Ave S and Alaskan Way

The viaduct demolition contractor Kiewit is working on the viaduct’s remaining southern section around South Dearborn Street. Crews will need safe work space to remove the viaduct, which means lane reductions and sidewalk closures for people walking, biking and driving in the area. The map and the list below contain the planned roadway changes over the next several weeks.

Tomorrow: First Avenue reduces to one lane in each direction near CenturyLink field, south of South Dearborn Street. This narrowing will not extend past South Royal Brougham Way.
July: Streets between Yesler Way and South Dearborn Street will close at Alaskan Way while crews remove the viaduct running overhead.
Week of July 8: Railroad Way South closes both directions for four days.
Week of July 12: Yesler Way closes beneath the viaduct.
August: South Dearborn Street closes while crews remove the viaduct overhead.

You can follow progress by subscribing to Friday construction email updates, browsing the interactive tracker, and checking out photos of the work on Flickr.

Travel Alert: Changes to 1st Ave N for Seattle Center Arena Construction

June 25, 2019 by Molly Wright

Sidewalk and curb lane changes are being installed on 1^st Ave N and a few intersecting streets as part of the Seattle Center Arena Renovation project. These changes allow access for truck hauling and construction staging, maintaining transit service, and separating people riding bikes from large trucks.

Changes include:

Restricting parking and loading areas on 1^st Ave N;
Adding loading zones and designated disabled spaces on surrounding streets;
Installing a temporary protected bicycle lane on the west side of 1^st Ave N from Denny Way to Roy St;
Adding a new signal at 1^st Ave N and Thomas St; and
Relocating the northbound transit stop from John St to south of Denny Way.

Here’s what you can expect:

SCHEDULE

Most parking and loading restrictions have begun along the west side of 1^st Ave N. The full signal will be turned on the week of June 24, and the roadway re-striping and the installation of the temporary protected bicycle lane will be complete prior to the beginning of July by the Seattle Arena team.

You may notice more activity at the site as demolition finishes and excavation begins in July, which will mean more large trucks and the start of nighttime work.

CLOSURE | DETOUR

Most changes will be on 1^st Ave N between Denny Way and Roy St. See the map below for a full view of all of the changes on 1^st Ave N.

Flyer: Changes Coming to Parking and Loading on 1st Ave N and Surrounding Streets

BIKING

People biking northbound on 1^st Ave N will use the new temporary protected bicycle lane on the west side of 1^st Ave N.

Temporary Bike Lane on 1st Ave N With New Load Zones

New temporary protected bike lane on 1st Ave N

WALKING

Be aware of sidewalk closures and use the new signal at 1st Ave N and Thomas St to cross safely.

New Traffic Signal at Thomas St and 1st Ave N

Traffic signal at 1st Ave N and Thomas St

TRANSIT

Transit riders who normally use the temporary northbound John St stop will need to use stops either south of Denny Way or at Republican St.

DRIVING

If you’re driving through the area, please be aware of these changes and travel carefully. For those parking in the area, consider utilizing existing parking garages or lots in the area, or parking and loading on side streets. Two northbound vehicle travel lanes on 1^st Ave N will remain open during construction.

PROJECT OUTCOME

The Seattle Center Arena is being redeveloped into a world-class arena, ready for professional hockey, basketball, and music. This project includes a new entry atrium, below grade expansion for additional seating and circulation, a below grade loading dock, vehicular tunnel and parking for up to 400 vehicles to be provided below grade.

Want more information?

For more information and to sign up for construction updates from the Oak View Group, please visit newarenaatseattlecenter.com.

You can also learn more about the Seattle Center Arena Renovation project at www.seattle.gov/arena.

Thank you for your patience!

June 14 – 17: Repairing the Roadway Panels at Mercer St and Fairview Ave N

June 13, 2019 by Molly Wright

Crews will be repairing the roadway panels on westbound Mercer St at Fairview Ave N this Friday, June 14 – Monday, June 17. Prepare for impacts to travel throughout the weekend.

Here’s what you can expect:

SCHEDULE

Work will begin on Friday, June 14 at 9 PM. Streets will reopen in time for the morning commute on Monday, June 17.

CLOSURE | DETOUR

Westbound Mercer St between I-5 and Boren Ave N will be closed, as well as the I-5 SB off-ramp to Mercer St. Use alternate routes and expect increased traffic at the I-5 SB off-ramps to Union St, Stewart St, and James St.

Drivers coming onto Mercer from NB I-5 will take a mandatory left to Fairview Ave N, where they will then be directed to Denny Way and then to Westlake Ave N.

Fairview Ave N will be open in both directions, and eastbound Mercer St to the I-5 on-ramps will remain open.

A uniformed police officer will be directing traffic at the intersection of Mercer St and Fairview Ave N throughout the weekend. Traffic engineers will be making signal adjustments on Mercer St to keep people moving.

NOISE

Expect loud noise and vibrations on Friday between 9 PM – 12 AM.

PROJECT OUTCOME

This work is to permanently restore the pavement that was damaged in the crane collapse on Saturday, April 27.

Want more information?

If you have any questions, please contact 206-684-7623 or 684-ROAD@seattle.gov. We appreciate your patience during this work.

Friday, May 31 – Monday, June 3: Expect lane reductions on Aurora Bridge

May 29, 2019 by Molly Wright

View of the SR 99 Aurora Bridge from the Fremont Bridge. Photo courtesy of WSDOT.

This weekend marks the beginning of series of lane reductions for pavement preservation work on the SR 99 Aurora Bridge over the summer.

From Friday night until Monday morning, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will scrape off old asphalt on the roadway, make any needed repairs to the bridge deck and repave.

This work is weather-dependent, so it could be postponed if there’s a decent chance of rain. Plan ahead and prepare for impacts to travel.

Here’s what you can expect:

SCHEDULE

Beginning at 7 PM Friday, May 31 until 5 AM Monday, June 3, both directions of SR 99 will be reduced to a single lane across the bridge to repave the southern part of the northbound lanes.

Additional bridge paving work is scheduled throughout the summer. Other weekend lane reductions scheduled so far are:

June 14-17
June 28-July 1
July 12-15
Aug. 9-12, 16-19 and 23-26

A map and description of the lane reductions on the Aurora Bridge this weekend. Photo courtesy of WSDOT.

CLOSURE | DETOUR

Expect heavy traffic on Aurora Ave N, side streets, and I-5 as people work their way around this lane reduction. Know your trip and route options before you head out the door to reach your destination on time. King County Metro riders can stay up to date with Transit Alerts.

PROJECT DETAILS

This work is part of the project this summer to repave all of Aurora Ave between Roy Street near downtown Seattle and North 145th Street at the Seattle/Shoreline city limits. Most of the work will take place at night, but repaving the bridge requires weekends.

At least one lane in both directions of SR 99 will remain open during the work. Access to residences and businesses will be maintained during business hours.

Visit WSDOT’s website to learn more about the project schedule.

Crews already have finished paving the southbound section of SR 99
between the Aurora Bridge and Roy Street and are working northbound
in that same area now. They’ll continue working north of the bridge
throughout the summer. Photo courtesy of WSDOT.

Travel Alert: Seattle Blvd S Signal & Lane Changes

May 20, 2019 by Molly Wright

To improve traffic flow into downtown during the morning commute, we’re making changes to the traffic signal and middle lane on Seattle Blvd S approaching 4^th Ave.

During the morning commute hours (6-9 AM), the middle travel lane will be right turn-only.

We’re installing a new signal at this location that will indicate that this lane is northbound (NB) only in the morning. After 9 AM, the middle lane may be used to turn left or right to head either NB or SB on 4^th Ave S.

Heads up: If you are turning left to go south on 4^th Ave S during the morning commute, be sure to stay in the left lane! If you travel into downtown in the morning using I-90, exit at Rainier, and turn onto Dearborn, this change will feel different.

Here’s what you can expect:

SCHEDULE

These changes are permanent and are expected to be installed in summer 2019.

TRANSIT

During the morning commute hours (6 – 9 AM), buses will travel in the middle lane and turn right to head northbound on 4^th Ave S.

PROJECT OUTCOME

Our goal is to improve traffic flow into downtown during the morning commute, reducing travel times for transit and other modes of transportation.

After noticing that northbound traffic into downtown during the AM peak commute was getting delayed, we are implementing these changes to keep traffic moving through the area during the #SeattleSqueeze and beyond.

Want more information about this project?

Thanks for your patience as we install our new signal and lane markings. Plan ahead, give yourself extra time, and be patient as we all adjust to new ways of getting around. Email us at 684-ROAD@seattle.gov or call us at 684-ROAD with further questions.

SDOT Blog Department of Transportation

SDOT Blog

A Vibrant Seattle Through Transportation Excellence.

Cowen Park Bridge Seismic Improvements Coming This Fall!

Here’s what you can expect:

What’s the background on this project?

Want more information?

Come on down and ride the new 8th Ave protected bike lane!

We celebrated the opening of the bike lane on Wednesday, August 14 along with many members of the community!

Why did we install this bike lane?

What’s next?

Questions?

August 12: 5th Ave NE Closure for Link Light Rail Construction

Here’s what you can expect:

Want more information?